Lydia LaVerne Moore

Lydia 'Liddy' Laverne Moore Matthews, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend, joined the heavens July 7, 2022, at age 74.

Born to Jesse and Ruth Moore of Bellaire, Michigan on September 28, 1947, she had a natural talent for art, singing, poetry and making people laugh.

With a love of both music and animals, Lydia, at a young age, while sleepwalking one night, had been found in the pasture, singing to the cows. This silly incident was a mere foreshadowing of her life,  as she would later become worship leader in her church and a pet parent to her beloved shih tzu, Tia.

Known for her warm smile and generous spirit, she never said goodbye without adding "Love you". One time, she accidentally ended a phone call with the representative of a utility company that way.  Her friends and family laughed for years to come over that, because it was "so Liddy".

She was a mother to many, welcoming multiple children in her home and heart. Her love was boundless. She never differentiated between her biological and 'adoptive' children.

Lydia will be greatly missed by her brother John (Alvareta) Moore, of Bellaire; sister, Dotty (Eddie) Potrafke, of Central Lake; brother Tim (Joanie) Moore, of Mancelona; daughters, Patricia Goetz of Bridgeport, and Wendy Matthews (Kenneth Maris) of Mancelona.

Affectionately known as 'Nana', her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy: Thomas (Ashley) Goetz, of Birch Run; Victoria (Hassan) Al-Taaey, their son, Athab and daughter, Zahraa, of Freeport, Illinois; Taylor (Hamdi) Tej, and son, Khaled, of Bridgeport; Tamera (Gary) Tennant and daughter Lilly, of Waterford; Tabitha Goetz, of Freeport, Illinois;  Theodore Goetz, of Bridgeport; Trista Goetz, of Edgewater, Florida; and Timothy Goetz, stationed at Edward's Air Force Base in Kern County, California.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.  

Lydia is preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Ruth Moore; brother, Danny (surviving spouse, Vallerie) Moore; sister, Kathryn Moore; and brother-in-law, Eddie Potrafke.

As a longtime attendee of the Bellaire Wesleyan Church, Lydia exemplified the lyric of her favorite hymnal:

Freely, freely you have received
Freely, freely give
Go in my name, and because you believe,
   others will know that I lived

The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility for enhancing Lydia’s quality of life with their compassionate care for the past several years. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11am at the Fresh Start Wesleyan Church in Bellaire. Luncheon immediately following.

Memorial contributions to Lydia’s church and favorite charities may be made to the family in care of Patricia Goetz, 2875 Diamond Street, Saginaw, MI  48601.

The family was served by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Home.